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  • Airmen remember pain of Sept. 11

    Time is said to heal all wounds, but how much time heals emptiness left behind when more than 3,000 lives are instantaneously and mercilessly cut short? Two years have passed since Sept. 11, yet servicemembers here, like all Americans, continue to sort through the pain of personal and symbolic

  • Rocket blasts off from Florida

    A Titan IV B rocket successfully launched from here Sept. 9. The rocket carried a National Reconnaissance Office payload into orbit. The classified payload will help enhance national security for the United States and support deployed forces, according to 45th Space Wing officials.The mission had

  • Airmen set up staging facility in Bulgaria

    Airmen from the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron set up an active mobile aeromedical staging facility here for Exercise Cooperative Key 2003.The squadron is one of four in the Air Force capable of the task.“Some of us have prior real-world (staging facility) experience in (operations) Enduring

  • Miss America contestants visit Andrews

    As part of their tribute to America’s armed forces, Miss America 2003 and the 51 women competing for her crown came here Sept. 5 to join airmen for breakfast at the Andrews Officers’ Club.The airmen ate with the contestant from each of their states.The contestants signed autographs and had their

  • Kunsan F-16 crashes; pilot safe

    An F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot ejected safely before his aircraft crashed into the Yellow Sea about 56 miles southwest of here at 10:05 a.m. Sept. 9. The pilot, Capt. Kevin Dydyk, was rescued by South Korean airmen in an HH-47 helicopter. Dydyk arrived here at noon and was reported in good condition

  • Deployed aircraft given ISO inspection

    Maintainers recently completed a comprehensive inspection of a deployed aircraft here for the first time when a Kentucky Air National Guard C-130 Hercules underwent a complete isochronal inspection.Isochronal inspections examine numerous essential aircraft systems like propulsion and hydraulics,

  • Canine defenders keep warfighters safe

    A 12-inch-long mortar round lay partly hidden in the overgrowth near a checkpoint at Baghdad International Airport. It was found and safely destroyed thanks to the keen senses of a four-legged member of the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.Rudy, one of several military working dogs

  • Life ‘booms’ for KC-10 airman

    At midnight, Airman 1st Class Katherine Monke looked out over Afghanistan from here KC-10 Extender. She said one of the best things about her job was just sitting up in the cockpit. “I think to myself, ‘I wonder what my friends back home are doing?’ Then I look down and realize I am flying over

  • Leaders issue Patriot Day message

    The following is a Patriot Day message from Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper:“The second anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, provides us all an opportunity to remember those murdered in New York, at the Pentagon and in

  • Airmen arrive in Poland for air meet

    U.S. pilots and maintainers arrived here Sept. 4 for an operation placing them with, and pitting them against, the world’s foremost fighter aircraft. NATO Air Meet 2003, a major recurring exercise, kicked off live-flying exercises Sept. 5 and runs through Sept. 19 here and at Powidz Air Base,

  • Turkish native enlists, returns home

    An airman here has known what he wanted to do ever since he was a small boy growing up in a middle-class neighborhood near Balgat Air Base in Ankara, Turkey.Staff Sgt. Erim Celik, a contract specialist assigned to the 39th Contracting Squadron, wanted to live the American dream. There was only one

  • Deployed airmen get break on loans

    Servicemembers who have been deployed or mobilized are not required to make student loan payments during their absences.Federal regulations require lenders to postpone the student loan program payments of active-duty servicemembers. This applies to people of the National Guard and Ready Reserves

  • Airmen join nations in exercise

    More than 70 airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe bases arrived here Sept. 1 for Exercise Cooperative Key 2003. They joined servicemembers from eight NATO nations and 12 partner nations.According to officials here, the goal of the exercise is to enhance the interoperability of NATO and partner

  • Airmen donate items to Bulgarian children

    Airmen of the 86th Contingency Response Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, donated van-loads of clothing, toys, games and books to school children here Sept 2.They brought the donated goods with them as they deployed to participate in the NATO Partnership for Peace exercise, Cooperative Key

  • Airmen train with soldiers in Hawaii

    The Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing added close-air support to its annual combat training here this summer with help from the Army’s 25th Infantry Division.A week of training, called Sentry Strike, was held with the Army’s forward-air controllers. Each year, the wing’s airmen deploy

  • Officials announce OTS selections

    Air Force officials are giving 11 enlisted airmen the chance to trade in their stripes for gold bars by choosing them to attend Officer Training School, officials announced Sept. 3. Air Force Recruiting Service officials conducted OTS Selection Board 0307, which met here. The board considered 206

  • Murray discusses issues at Minot

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald Murray discussed current issues with airmen here during a visit Aug. 28 to 30.Topics included the test utility uniform, the Dorms-4-Airmen Program, the new fitness standards, air and space expeditionary force rotations, and retention and recruiting

  • Airmen patrol enemy’s side of wire

    In a hot and dusty Afghani valley, there is land scarred with land mines and tied down with concertina wire fences separating American heroes from terrorists. The environment alone is hostile, featuring sweltering summers and bone-chilling winters. The habitat is a haven for venomous creatures and

  • Troops head out to record holiday greetings

    Broadcasters from the Army and Air Force Hometown News Service will begin collecting holiday greetings from troops overseas Sept. 8.Three teams of military broadcasters are expected to return here with more than 13,000 individual messages to be sent to local television and radio stations in the

  • Airmen supporting JTF in Cuba

    A handful of airmen are among those supporting Joint Task Force-Guantanamo charged with supporting the detainee mission here. More than 2,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and airmen are supporting the war on terrorism by providing humane treatment and care to approximately 660

  • Airmen attend Army weather course

    Several experienced Air Force forecasters completed a pilot version of a new course designed to help airmen provide weather support for Army operations.The first official staff weather officer course is scheduled for October. Its instructors teach Air Force weather specialists some of the Army’s

  • Now showing: Sept. 1 edition of AFTV News

    How the transformation of the Air Force will affect Air Mobility Command is spotlighted in the latest edition of Air Force Television News. In a special Eye on the Air Force, Staff Sgt. Joe Wallace goes to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., to examine what role AMC will play in the transformation

  • Airmen help donations reach Afghanistan

    A small contingent of airmen escorted a convoy of Kazak army trucks here from the border of Kazakhstan Aug. 27. They brought supplies for the developing Afghan national army.The convoy, consisting of 10 large cargo trucks, carried winter clothing, blankets and other field supplies donated by the

  • Base is first to test alternative fuel cell

    A new fuel cell is giving airmen here a sneak peek at the Defense Department's proposed plan for using hydrogen as an alternative fuel source. The test unit installed here is the fifth in the Department of Defense and the first to be evaluated on an Air Force base, officials said.Thirty military

  • Jumper talks uniforms, ops, tankers

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper talked to airmen here about upcoming changes in the Air Force during a visit to the base Aug. 22.He shared his thoughts on the new fitness program, the new uniform, deployment issues and the acquisition of new tankers.All of these changes were brought on by

  • Recruiting, retention outlook good

    Despite predictions to the contrary, Americans are continuing to volunteer for the military, and those already in are re-enlisting at a vigorous rate.Early in the war on terrorism, many critics predicted the United States would have to return to the draft to man the forces. But in this 30th year of

  • Fitness experts: Start training now

    Air Force fitness experts say airmen must begin preparations now if they want to pass the new fitness evaluations in January. "They need to start training today for year-round fitness to meet mission readiness. They must include running, push-ups and crunches into their program," said Sylvia Goff,

  • Contractor to control air traffic at Bagram

    The base here is scheduled to be the first of four supporting Operation Enduring Freedom to replace Air Force air traffic controllers and airfield managers with contracted civilians. The transition is expected by the end of September.“We expect a seamless transition with no interruption to air

  • Airmen keep Bagram protected

    Firemen always have had a lot of responsibility resting on their shoulders, from the proverbial rescue of a kitten stuck in a tree to selflessly entering towering infernos to rescue those inside. The Air Force firefighters of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group here say they are aware of this

  • Airmen open hearts, planes for Thai orphans

    Guy Ratchaporn had never been on an airplane before. The 6 year old never dreamed he would sit in the pilot’s seat of an MC-130 Combat Shadow until the 353rd Special Operations Group airmen from Kadena Air Base, Japan, opened their airplane and their hearts to children of Thailand’s Ban Jang Jai

  • Americans officially end era at PSAB

    U.S. officials transferred control of portions of Prince Sultan Air Base to Saudi officials at a ceremony Aug. 26. The ceremony also marked the inactivation of the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing."We came here under difficult circumstances following the Khobar Towers bombing (at Dhahran Air Base),”

  • Former TAC commander dead at 76

    The general who led Tactical Air Command for more than six years died Aug. 26 in Las Vegas at the age of 76.Retired Gen. Wilbur L. “Bill” Creech, TAC commander from May 1, 1978, to Dec. 31, 1984, is survived by his wife Caroline A. Creech.Creech was a command pilot who flew more than 40 fighter,

  • Airmen play in national exercise

    Operations, logistics and medical experts here continue to assist state and federal agencies in a simulated nation-wide battle against the pneumonic plague, wildfires and bad weather, which began Aug. 18.The exercise, Determined Promise ‘03, was designed to test U.S. Northern Command’s

  • Deployed troops get U.S. radio, TV

    Most U.S. forces deployed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom have access to American Forces Radio and Television Service broadcasts.The Air Force Broadcasting Service provides radio and television service to servicemembers assigned within the U.S. Central Command areas of operation in Central Asia,

  • Airman charged with murder

    An airman from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, was charged with murder in connection with the death of another airman.Military officials preferred charges against Staff Sgt. Jason Arindain on Aug. 25 for violating Article 118 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He allegedly strangled Staff Sgt.

  • Kit redesign prevents parts damage

    Spare parts onboard E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft will no longer be bubble-wrapped parcels rattling around inside unpadded containers.Instead, each critical part of a spares package will be nestled into customized niches cut into polyethelene foam, said Airman 1st Class

  • Air Force reaches recruiting goal

    The Air Force reached its enlisted-contract goal Aug. 22 with the signing of its 37,000th enlistment contract. More than 32,000 people entered basic military training since Sept. 30. The Air Force now has enough contracts to meet its goal for the fiscal year and has for the past four years,

  • Doctor awarded for work in info therapy

    A doctor here has been recognized by U.S. Medicine, a medical news organization, for his pioneering work in information therapy.Col. (Dr.) Kent Murphy, founder of the academy’s Center of Excellence for Medical Multimedia, was awarded the Frank Brown Berry Prize in Federal Healthcare. His influence

  • Air Force teamwork saves U.N. lives

    Airmen from several Air Force units at Baghdad International Airport rescued seven U.N. employees injured when a terrorist bomb exploded outside their headquarters here Aug. 19. Approximately 90 minutes after the attack, 301st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron officials sent two combat search and rescue

  • Standing watch

    Airman 1st Class Wednesday D. Brodenburger completes a pre-dawn patrol near one of the interior perimeter fences here. She and other airmen of the 822nd Security Forces Squadron are returning home after serving more than five months supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by

  • IMAX film crew wraps session at Nellis

    Filming wrapped for the summer here Aug. 22 on an IMAX film based on the Air Force and the mission of Red Flag.The 45-minute, multimillion-dollar film is scheduled to be released in 2004, according to officials.“IMAX is a spectacular venue in which to showcase the Air Force,” said Maj. Gen. Steve

  • Metallic name tag mandatory Jan. 1

    Personnel officials announced in a recent message to the field that the new metallic name tag will be mandatory on the service dress uniform and pullover sweaters Jan. 1.The items, which have been available for purchase since November, will be issued to enlisted airmen by their organizations,

  • Airman’s lifestyle change reaps benefits

    With preparation for the new Air Force fitness standards underway, some servicemembers are already getting in shape.A simple challenge from his leaders was all it took for one airman here to do just that, and lose 35 pounds.Col. Jack Gundrum, 731st Air Mobility Squadron commander, made a New Year’s

  • Airmen forging ties with Russians

    Since studying Russian culture during her college years in the early 1990s, Capt. Jessica Rhyne dreamed of seeing Russia and visiting Moscow.Her dream came true Aug. 18. Not from a tour bus, but from the cockpit of her F-16 Fighting Falcon, flying high over the city and landing at this once secret

  • Osan airmen keep engines ready

    There are at least five fluids required to keep the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft’s TF-34 turbofan engines running: fuel, lubricant, blood, sweat and tears.The 51st Maintenance Squadron’s propulsion flight airmen here have all 11 of their spare A-10 engines ready and waiting in case one is

  • 'Airport in a suitcase' thwarts poor visibility

    Airmen from Robins Air Force Base, Ga., are providing essential airfield systems here for forces fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom.The 5th Combat Communications Group airmen are using an air traffic and control landing system they call their "airport in a suitcase" to help aircraft land safely

  • C-9 completes last U.S. mission

    Airmen prepared for Air Evac 696's Aug. 18 mission as they would for any other. But this was not like any other mission.The aircraft, a C-9A Nightingale, was embarking on the 375th Airlift Wing's last scheduled C-9 aeromedical evacuation flight. In fact, it was the last operational C-9 AE flight

  • Running 411: What new runners should know

    Running long distances can be an intimidating task, especially to airmen who have not stepped foot on the track since basic training.But, for those who want to start running, there are ways to start a program so runners can meet their target distance and time without injury.“There are many methods

  • Andersen airman found dead

    An active-duty airman was found dead Aug. 13 in his dormitory room here. Airman Joshua S. Robinson, 20, a firefighter with the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron, was found by co-workers. Responding base paramedics attempted to revive Robinson. He was pronounced dead at 9:29 a.m.Robinson entered the Air

  • Officials release fitness-test details

    Beginning next year, Air Force officials will implement a new fitness test completely different than what airmen today are familiar with.The more functional test will include a 1.5-mile timed run, a muscular-fitness test of push-ups and crunches and a body composition test. It is designed to

  • Now showing: Aug. 18 edition of AFTV News

    The work of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard in three northeastern states to keep people and supplies moving to and from Southwest Asia is spotlighted in the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Staff Sgt. Bill Scherer visits Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H., an ANG unit at

  • Troops visit Iraqi orphanages

    The rumble of American convoy’s engines slowed to a dull idle, while the melodic sounds of a Muslim prayer filled the hot, dusty air of An Nasiriyah, Iraq. The scene quickly changed as airmen and soldiers here arrived at local orphanages with boxes of surprises.One after another, the troops

  • Helicopter flight makes 350th save

    A crew from the 40th Helicopter Flight rescued an injured horseback rider who was thrown and dragged by his horse Aug. 11 in the mountains south of Livingston, Mont. This was the 350th save by the airmen of the 40th HF.The rescue of Gary Ellis took place Aug. 12 along the shore of an alpine lake at

  • Week offers officer, enlisted interaction

    For the first time in a professional military education setting, second lieutenants and senior noncommissioned officers got together to interact. The environment allowed for improved leadership, followership and mentorship between officers and enlisted airmen.During an initiative called “Combined

  • Twins celebrate 21st in Afghanistan

    The 455th Expeditionary Operations Group air traffic control flight celebrated the birthday of two of its airmen here Aug. 13. Senior Airmen Jason and Miles Herder, who are identical twins, turned 21 while deployed from the Air National Guard’s 243rd Air Traffic Control Squadron in Cheyenne, Wyo.

  • Airman killed in car accident

    One airman was killed and another critically injured Aug. 13 in a car accident 40 miles south of Omaha, Neb. Airman 1st Class Ellee Smathers, 20, of Deland, Fla., was killed, and Airman Charles Capobianco of Bradenton, Fla., was injured.The airmen had just finished participating in the

  • AF works to demobilize Guard, Reserve

    The Air Force is working to return the nearly 28,000 mobilized Guard and Reserve airmen to their families and civilian jobs as quickly as possible, according to the service’s senior manpower official.“There are a full range of initiatives that we’re undertaking to accomplish the mission without

  • Team evaluates combat identification

    Nearly 2,000 people participated in a joint combat-identification exercise at the Combat Readiness Training Center here Aug. 4 to 14. The exercise focused on identifying targets when systems disagree on the target’s coordinates.An example might be when an E-8C Joint Stars and a RQ-1 Predator

  • Volunteers bring ‘home’ to airmen

    They live in conditions their counterparts back home would frown upon. They are aware they could come under attack at any time and possibly lose their lives. They endure the fatigue from working long hours in temperatures hotter than 100 degrees. But one thing makes them different from the

  • AF offers short-term enlistments

    Beginning in October, 1 percent of new fiscal 2004 Air Force enlisted accessions, or about 370 recruits, will be able to sign up for a 15-month enlistment, as part of the National Call to Service program.The congressionally mandated program is designed to let people serve their country who might

  • CSAF talks changes in Air Force

    New demands on today’s airmen are driving changes to the Air Force physical fitness program and a possible new uniform, said the service’s senior leader during a visit here Aug. 13.As the Air Force’s needs and demands change, so should airmen, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper. “I

  • Celebration in NY recalls 100 years of flight

    Thousands of people are celebrating the Centennial of Flight during events through Aug. 18 in Rockefeller Center here.Among the crowds are parents being dragged by their children who are eager to see the full-scale replicas of the F-16 Fighting Falcon or RQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle.

  • Airman saves heart-attack victim

    To just go in, vote and get back to work seemed like a reasonable expectation for Senior Master Sgt. Glenn Parsons, ground safety supervisor for the Air National Guard’s 193rd Special Operations Wing here.But on his way from his job at the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to a lunchtime

  • Security forces ensure airmen return safely

    In the upcoming weeks, the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing will inactivate, ending the American presence here.By then, most of the deployed airmen here will have already rotated home or to other forward locations.However, the airmen of the 363rd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron will be on guard

  • Deployed airmen getting small-town living

    Airmen deployed here will soon be saying farewell to their tents and hello to small-town living.This welcome change for airmen is just part of the transformation of this expeditionary base into a permanent air base with most of the amenities found at home.“We’re in the process of building a small

  • Memorial-fund contributions continue

    Airmen around the world can help create a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the Pentagon.The campaign goal was to raise $1 million from July 21 to Aug. 8, however the fund is hundreds of thousands of dollars shy of that goal, according to Steve Kelly, of

  • Shuttle investigation gives airmen knowledge

    Following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in February, NASA officials activated a 13-member board to determine the cause of the accident.Three of those board members are bluesuiters. They said they believe some of the lessons learned while working with NASA can be brought back with them to the

  • AF announces staff sergeant promotions

    The Air Force has selected 13,651 of 27,416 eligible senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant, a 49.79-percent selection rate.The Air Force will release the promotion list the first duty hour Aug. 13 (Aug. 14 for Western Pacific bases). The complete list of selectees will be posted Aug. 15 to

  • Feedback vital to uniform test

    Feedback will be key for Air Force leaders making their decision on the newly proposed utility uniform, said the Air Force’s top enlisted airman. “We want airmen’s feedback,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray during his visit here Aug. 6 to 10. “We don’t want

  • Vietnam veteran serves in Iraq

    Master Sgt. Terry Upchurch has a unique perspective serving in Iraq. He can compare his experiences here with those he had 35 years ago as an 18-year-old airman in Vietnam."I had been married only three months," said Upchurch, who is with the 506th Operations Support Squadron. "I was an air

  • Airmen recognized for dispute resolution

    Air Force legal teams have earned a unique award for excellence in alternate-dispute resolution.The American Bar Association presented the Lawyers as Problem Solvers Award to the Air Force at a conference in San Francisco on Aug. 8. In the past, the award was given only to individuals. This year

  • Combat Shadows helping with Liberia

    Airmen from the 398th Air Expeditionary Group embarked on a refueling flight Aug. 6 in an MC-130P Combat Shadow, originally from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, now supporting operations in Liberia. The mission was to refuel three HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, also part of the 398th AEG, from

  • Airmen keep planes, spirits flying high

    Eglin airmen working at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, are wearing various hats to keep the airplanes in the air and airmen on the ground safe.Airmen from the 728th Air Control Squadron deployed more than three months ago and have had to learn to deal with the danger and boredom that accompany

  • Report lauds suicide prevention program

    The Air Force’s Suicide Prevention Program has been hailed as a “model program” in a landmark report released by the president's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.The 113-page report, titled “Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America,” cites an “urgent need for action

  • Air Force leads EUCOM transformation

    U.S. European Command’s deputy commander wants the command to become a more flexible, expeditionary-based fighting force for the 21st century.Key issues within the plan that will affect airmen include securing better training areas, airspace for fighter training and new forward locations for

  • BMT sets new fitness standards

    Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper announced July 30 the Air Force would be raising fitness standards in January. More rigorous basic military training graduation standards will take effect here Oct. 12.Basic military training daily physical fitness regimens are now tougher and more focused on

  • Airmen support operations in Liberia

    Far from the forests and castles of Germany, a handful of security forces airmen from the 52nd Security Forces Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base are deployed to the palm trees and jungle canopy of Africa supporting operations in Liberia. The airmen deployed to Dakar, Senegal, on July 13 and set up

  • Security forces ensure convoy safety in Iraq

    Convoys have been the lifeblood for operations here ever since coalition forces took control of this former Iraqi air force field at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom.The job of the 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron is to ensure that the convoys get through. Since March, the defenders

  • Now showing: Aug. 4 edition of AFTV News

    The changing face of the Air Force overseas is highlighted in the latest edition of Air Force Television News.Tech. Sgt. Matt Lomba visits Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, once the focal point for Air Force operations in Southwest Asia. Now the base is a mere shadow of its former self as the

  • Mother, daughter promoted together

    An Air Force mother and daughter shared a unique moment Aug. 1 when they were promoted together.Kareema Palmer-Johnson pinned master sergeant stripes on her mother, Sharita Johnson, then she received airman first class stripes of her own after her graduation from basic training earlier that day.Four

  • Promotion study list now available

    Promotion-eligible enlisted people can now find out which materials to study for the 2004 testing cycles.The most current Weighted Airman Promotion System catalog, which lists the materials used by test writers to develop the 2004 promotion tests, is now available on the Air Force Personnel Center

  • Lightning strikes tanker -- twice

    Twenty minutes before landing, all systems were normal, the mission had gone flawlessly and the crew of “Shell 02” was ready to complete another successful refueling flight supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. But 10 minutes and two lightning strikes later, the only thing resembling “normal”

  • Air Force unveils new uniform plan

    Air Force officials announced Aug. 6 plans for the wear test of a new utility uniform to possibly replace the current battle dress uniform.The blue, gray and green tiger-stripe camouflage ensemble is a departure from the current woodland pattern uniform and includes many new features that are

  • Airmen get peek at new uniform

    A prototype of the new Air Force utility uniform was unveiled July 9 in various duty sections at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and Bolling AFB, D.C.Senior Master Sgt. Jacqueline Dean, from the Air Force uniform board, enlisted the aid of eight airmen to demonstrate both the men’s and women’s version

  • Vandenberg air tower goes civilian

    The airfield tower here has become the first active-duty Air Force tower to be manned by contract civilian air traffic controllers. The switch took place Aug. 1.The bottom line for the change boils down to manning and bucks."Switching to civilian air traffic controllers frees slots in a critical

  • August Airman now available

    The August issue of Airman features “aces,” snipers at Bashur Airfield, the upcoming Air Force Academy football season and road maintenance airmen in a Washington national forest. These stories and more can be found in this month’s magazine, now available in print and online.Ace in the Sky -- World

  • Combat communicators keep airmen in touch

    As the fourth aircraft touched down after the Army seized the airfield here, the base gained one of its mission essential teams -- combat communicators.The team’s sole purpose is to deploy into a bare-base environment and set up expeditionary communications. For them it is not a challenge. It was

  • New pamphlet explains transformation

    Transformation is on the mind of every Air Force leader, but for many airmen, understanding the Air Force's plan for transformation proves difficult.The Air Force hopes a new 20-page booklet called "The Edge" will explain the concept of transformation to the service's uniformed airmen and civilian

  • Americans bring peace, stability to Afghanistan

    For the first time in more than 30 years the people of Afghanistan are beginning to see signs of peace and stability.Elders and leaders from local villages in the Bagram area of Afghanistan said the U.S. military and coalition partners have enabled them to begin living without the fear that comes

  • McChord couple overcomes tragedy

    Reserve Senior Airman Chris Murphy was in the hospital operating room to see the birth of his daughter, Katie, at 11:34 a.m. May 1. Moments later, he told his wife, Reserve Staff Sgt. Becky Murphy, one last "I love you," before he was told to leave so the oncologist could start the fight to save

  • Airman swaps stripes for wings

    Less than two years ago, Staff Sgt. Jerry Bennett raised his eyes to the sky as a weather forecasting instructor. Today, he takes to the sky as an Air Force pilot.On Aug. 8, the second lieutenant will complete three weeks of C-21 training with the 45th Airlift Squadron, just blocks away from the

  • Travis, Patrick airmen earn big $$$

    An airman from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and another from Patrick AFB, Fla., each earned a coveted $10,000 cash award for suggestions submitted through the Air Force’s Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.Staff Sgts. Nick Bugni and Al-Quaddir Vines received their checks for

  • CAAs help airmen make informed decisions

    Air Force career assistance advisers do more than advise commanders on retention issues; they help shape the force and assist airmen in making informed career decisions.The position was created three years ago to help counter the service’s declining retention rates. The job has evolved since then,

  • CSAF announces fitness program

    Airmen will begin hitting the track soon as the Air Force begins a new physical fitness program, the service’s senior leader announced in his July 30 “Fit to Fight” Sight Picture.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper directed that airmen will now test their fitness levels by performing

  • Maintainers keep helos ready

    Maintainers from the 85th Maintenance Squadron here have a huge responsibility to keep mission-critical helicopters ready to fly at a moment’s notice. The 31 maintainers deployed from Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, are part of the 398th Air Expeditionary Group providing support for operations

  • Airmen help keep the force healthy

    “Ensuring the health and safety of the base population” sounds like a job for an action hero of some sort. But two mere mortals from a forward-deployed location’s public health office handle the task.“Well, we ensure the health and safety of the troops to the best of our ability,” said Lt. Col.

  • Desert Hawk enhances security

    It launches with a bungee cord and looks like it is made of plastic foam.But three deployed airmen from the 72nd Security Forces Squadron swear by their “Desert Hawk” and the technology behind it.The portable unmanned aerial vehicle is an “eye in the sky,” seeing all and transmitting real-time

  • Air Force featured at AirVenture 2003

    The Air Force, a long-time presence at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture air show, brings aviation enthusiasts a new look this year. Alongside the largest display at EAA, the Air Force’s newest recruiting tool offer visitors a chance to “cross into the blue.”Located in the Air

  • Accident shows need for risk management

    A Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., airman in critical condition following a recent automobile accident brings home the seriousness behind the Air Force's 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign, officials said.Currently, 18 people Air Force-wide have died as the service's annual safety campaign

  • 'First shirts' use tough love, care for troops

    It is 2 a.m. and pitch black outside when suddenly the phone rings and the voice on the other end says an airman needs help.The first sergeant gets up and prepares for an early day. This is not new; it is part of the job, and could mean anything from a car accident to domestic violence or other